AIRSPEED CAMP TESTIMONIALS
I would like to thank Airspeed for the excellent camp in August, it was real pleasure to participate. Though my son Matthias and I have already taken a tunnelcamp with the same program in 2001, we never had the feeling that we were only repeating the old camp. The structure of our tunnelcamp was tailored to our former experiences in the wind tunnel and we were able to built on that base.
If I compare the basic camp of 11.2001 to the mega camp of 08.2002 I would always opt for a mega-camp in the future; after three days I felt comfortable in the wind tunnel and "warmed up", that gave an additional boost for the second three day camp. Markus and Matthias have profited a lot from that camp, it is unbelievable how fast those beginners in skydiving learned in the wind tunnel. For me it is very difficult to break bad habits in body position; Markus and Matthias will never form such bad habits. I have jumped with Markus since he finished AFF in 2001 and he is a completely different skydiver after the tunnelcamp, nobody would put him in the 140 jumps category anymore. Matthias has finished his AFF and made his first rw-jumps we me, the transition from wind tunnel to freefall went very smoothly. It is also unbelievable, that he has only 30 jumps now. They both proof that the wind tunnel is the best and fastest way into good skydiving. The wind tunnel will change student training in the same way as AFF already has.
- W. H.,
Germany
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi guys.
kate here, on an airplane home (finally) from Florida. I know many of you are in spain now (KICK ASS!) but I'd like to take the time to say THANK YOU from the bottom, top and sides of my heart. The 6 day tunnel camp was one of the best and most challenging learning experiences I have ever encountered. I ended up spending another 5 days in Deland, visiting friends, and had the opportunity to actually put my new found skills to test. I look better and feel better in freefall, and am reviewing the CD of AZ Mind Maps in anticipation of attending an extreme 4 way skills camp with Airspeed in the future. Damn it, you guys got me hooked again! The only down side was the need to wear long sleeve shirts when in public due to massive bruising on arms and shoulders, but I guess that's a huge incentive not to bounce off the sides of an unpadded tunnel (or to try and take on Airspeeds finest in stability tests!)
I'm singing the praises of your camps and teaching techniques to anyone who will sit still and I can't wait to have one of these beauties in my (almost) back yard.
-- Kate Cooper
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I was on AFF level 3, when I came to Tunnelcamp (Basic). I found the Instructors all incredibly helpful, and despite being a novice around people with hundreds/thousands of jumps, everyone made me feel a part of it. The encouragement, wise words and coaching I had not just from the coaches but from the other people in my group, really helped my confidence. I’m now looking forward to finishing my AFF course next month, and even catching up with my new friends in the near future.
Alan, again many thanks to yourself and the team for a great few days, I’m already looking forward and saving for another Tunnelcamp. Extra gratitude to Kirk for his patience in the face of adversity.
Best wishes to you all for the future,
Mark Phillips
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I attended Tunnel Camp 23. There were people in the camp that had 1000+ jumps and it ranged to a person still in AFF. I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I had some fear about making a mistake, looking foolish. One of the Airspeed members mentioned in our first meeting, we should not be afraid of making a mistake. If you don’t make mistakes, how can you learn? If you put that “perfectionist” pressure on yourself, you are not going to get as much as you can out of this camp.
I had 190 jumps when I began the camp. I also tend to put a lot of pressure on myself to perform well. I experienced a great deal of frustration on the first day. I felt I should have been better than I was. The Airspeed member working with our team reminded me that 190 jumps is not a lot and also of benefits I would not realize from this camp should I stay in the frustrated mindset that I was in. Ultimately, I found the experience to be the most positive “skydiving” experience ever. I learned so much. The pace of the camp was quick, but not too quick. Everyone involved was very positive and supportive and approachable and likable. I felt free to be myself and make mistakes and learn. I plan on attending another tunnel camp in the near future.
Thanks for everything,
Jeanie H.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I have been skydiving since 1981. Since 1995 I have been trying to break bad habits and improve my bodypostion. I think I have made a big step forward.
It was a joy for me to see my son go trough the course. In the beginning I thought I would see him flying in the same bodyposition that I have been trying to correct for years. After 15 minutes in the tunnel, he flew perfectly. He will never have the problems that I had with bodypostion.
In 1984 I saw the beginning of AFF in Germany and the impact AFF had on training students. I think the wind tunnel will have the same impact on training students. At first, I thought the tunnelcamp would be too expensive for AFF preparation but the camp was more than just preparation for AFF. In three days, my son learned the same flying skills it took me three years of jumping to learn.
With that result alone the tunnelcamp was worth every dime, even the journey from Germany.
- W. H.,
Germany
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our team, Formula 4, is now currently ranked as the Number One Intermediate team in the nation in the NSL. Without the Airspeed Tunnel Camps, I guarantee we would have never made it this far. Chris Farina and I have attended two Airspeed Camps, and Jon Martens has attended three. The improvement from that first time in the tunnel until now, borders on unimaginable. I hope every team out there understands what a Tunnel Camp can do for them. Two years ago, we had a 7.7 average. Last year, we had a 9.0 average. Now, after the tunnel camps, we've rocketed up to a 16.2 at our first competition.
I hope everyone on Airspeed understands what they have done for us. After last year's Nationals, I was pretty depressed, given the amount of effort, time, and of course money that I had poured into the team. Finishing in 15th place was not what I expected. I even seriously considered not competing anymore. Working with yourself, Christopher, Chad, Kirk, Dan and Gary has been both inspirational, and an opportunity I would never trade for anything. We've taken to heart not just the skills we garnered while in the tunnel, but also the lessons which were taught during the evening sessions. The sacrifices we have had to make this year are even greater than last year. However, by working with Airspeed, we obviously corrected the direction of our efforts. All of this has paid off for us many times over.
Thanks for all the help and encouragement. I'll see you at Nationals.
- Bobby May
Formula4
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I would recommend this camp to ANYONE serious about skydiving. Whether you have 50 or 5000 jumps you WILL come away a better flyer. With air-time equivalent to more than 60 dives, 'ground school' and debriefs all with world class instructors, you hone your mental, physical and emotional approach to skydiving to make a giant leap up the RW learning curve
- Alex Fisher (A-34786)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I would recommend tunnel camp to anyone interested in improving any or all of their flying skills regardless of experience level. I had 850 skydives when I went to camp. I was able to improve my basic body position enough that there was an obvious difference in the range of fall rate I was capable of performing without changing the amount of weight I wear. Learning to fall in place is something that most jumpers take for granted. Before camp, I thought...I can fall straight down no big deal. With the visual references provided by the tunnel, I found that falling straight down is not as easy as I thought but I came home with the skill to do just that. Learning turns in place, vertical transitions and other relative work skills in the tunnel became easy to improve after the basic work. I cam home a much better skydiver and relative worker. Overall, it was a high intensity very valuable learning experience.
- Sherry L. Dodson, DVM D21867
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Airspeed camps combine exceptional coaching with lots of fun. My primary goal was to relax and enjoy myself; but at the end of my first tunnel camp, a close friend commented that I had improved quite a bit. Wow---icing on the cake! I would definitely recommend Airspeed camps and all the Airspeed coaches to anyone interested in improving flying skills or just having fun. I can't wait 'til the next Airspeed tunnel camp!!
- Zephyr Aragon B19180
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
As a skydiver with very limited experience I found the Tunnel Camp to be extremely useful. The camp was very well organized, tunnel flight with the Airspeed coaches was an awesome learning experience, and lots of fun! Highly recommended!
- M. P.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
If it were not for the Airspeed guys, I might have given up doing RW. I have learned so much from each camp, that I walk away from each camp a far richer person than when I arrived. It's not only about skydiving skills, but commitment, accountability, team playing,...even interpersonal relationship....communications...accepting others limitations and even your own....and what to do to stretch my limitations and strengthen those that I do have.
I feel that your approach to the sport is such a delight and so refreshing. It is so positive and warm. I just love all you guys! Thanks to you all
- Lilian Goodin
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I attended an Arizona Airspeed camp earlier this year and thoroughly enjoyed it and improved my flying no end.
- Pamela Pemberton
